tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post7529416138686793210..comments2024-03-25T14:27:40.121-05:00Comments on Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength: Anniversary offering for the dead in Augustine's ConfessionsWeekend Fisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-16984263348942369402008-10-12T21:25:00.000-05:002008-10-12T21:25:00.000-05:00Hi Fr. ObregonI'm actually very interested in ...Hi Fr. Obregon<BR/><BR/>I'm actually very interested in exactly that question. There were several pagan cultures involved in the discussion, and I have not yet found out how the different pagan cultures around the Mediterranean viewed sacrifices for the dead, or how widespread the pagan practice may have been. <BR/><BR/>Consider, for example, birthday celebrations. We know the ancient pagans celebrated them; they may be of "pagan origin" in that way. The Jehovah's Witnesses consider birthday celebrations to be over the line because of their pagan origins, whereas most of us can hardly comprehend their concern since the pagan roots are 1) not integral and 2) not a going concern as if there were possible contamination of Christian beliefs by going to a birthday party. <BR/><BR/>All the same, I love to dig into the history of things. <BR/><BR/>I'd be glad to hear about where you were a missionary, if you were inclined to tell. <BR/><BR/>Take care & God bless<BR/>WFWeekend Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860677.post-34369409808528139582008-10-11T21:19:00.000-05:002008-10-11T21:19:00.000-05:00As both a former missionary and an Orthodox priest...As both a former missionary and an Orthodox priest, I know the difficulties in deciding which cultural practices may be brought into the Church with no harm and which cultural practices must be kept out lest the faith be sullied.<BR/><BR/>However, I would also like you to consider another option. That is, certain practices may be permitted in one culture but forbidden in another. That is, some things may be perfectly appropriate in one culture, but may cause scandal in another. Let me give you one example.<BR/><BR/>In most of the Orthodox home nations, priests wear long beards and, often, long hair. The beards are not neatly trimmed or shaped but "bushy". They also wear their cassock as normal street wear.<BR/><BR/>But, here in the USA, many Orthodox priests wear no beard or a very trimmed, neat, and short beard. Why the difference?<BR/><BR/>Well, in this culture a "bushy" beard and long hair do not lead to honor and respect but to dishonor and suspicion. Thus, in this culture, the use of the beard, and long has diminished greatly. The use of the cassock as street wear has essentially disappeared. It is now "temple" wear.<BR/><BR/>Thus, could it be that the situation in North Africa (from where Monica came) and the situation in Italy were different enough that it was a case of differing cultural practices rather than theological difference?Fr. Ernesto Obregonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604427006036613426noreply@blogger.com